Fence-wire stretcher



PATBNTED FEB. 9, 1904.

L. A. BUTTS.

PENCE WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION PILD APB.. 1, 1903.

NO MODEL.

Iggfop,

UNITED STATES Patented. February 9, 1904.

LUCIEN A. BUTTS, OF RUSSELL, IOVA.

FENCE-WIRE STRETCHER.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,608, dated February9, 1904.

Application filed April 1, 1903. Serial No. 150,633. (NO model.)

To a/ZZ whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, LUCIEN A. BUTTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Russell, in the county of Lucas and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Vire-Stretcher, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in wire-stretchers ofthat general class shown in United States Letters Patent granted to meon the 17th day of May, 1887, under NO. 868,314.

The primary object of the invention is to improve, simplify, and cheapenthe construction of the stretcher and to provide means for effectuallystretching and retaining the wire under tension preparatory to nailing,stapling, or otherwise permanently securing the wire to the fence-post.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for clampingthe stretcher to the fence-post, thereby effectively preventing verticalor lateral displacement of the same during' the stretching operation,and, furthermore, to provide a stretcher, the construction and relativedisposition of the several parts being such as to permit them to bereadily assembled or any part thereof removed and renewed when worn orbroken.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, itbeing' understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from theprinciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of awire-stretcher constructed in accordance with my invention, showing thesame applied to a fence-post. Fig. 'is a top plan view of the same. Fig.3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4: is a front elevation of the stretcher.Fig. 5 is a rear view of the sectional base and supporting-arms. Fig. 6is a side elevation of the base and supporting arms with the shaft orspindle removed.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a modified form of stretcher, showing apair of vertically-disposed pins for attaching the wire to the shaft orspindle. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the wrench or spanner.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawlngs.

1 designates the supporting-base, which may be formed of metal or othersuitable material, and consists of a pair of horiZontally-disposed bars2 and 3, provided, respectively, with upwardly and downwardly eXtendinglugs or ears 4, adapted to bear against the side of the fencepost. Theends of said lugs are forked, as shown at 5, for the reception of screwsor similar fastening devices, which may engage the post and preventVertical displacement of the stretchers when necessary. The bars 2 and 3are each provided with a series of coincident openings 6, and pivoted insaid openings at the opposite ends of the bars arehorizontallyprojecting arms 7 and 8, the inner faces of which areprovided with inwardly-extending teeth 9, which engage the sides of thepost. The arms 7 and 8 are clamped to the post by means of a threadedbolt 10, the hooked end 11 of which engages an opening in the end of thearm 7 the opposite end of the bolt passing through upwardly-extendingears 12 on the end of the arm 8 and engaging a wingnut 13. Formedintegral with the base is a pair of supporting-arms 141 and 15, the rearends of which are reduced, as shown at 16, forming a spacing-block forthe bars 2 and 3, said supporting-arms being secured together by meansof a bolt and nut 17, passing through alined openings in said bars. Theforward ends of the arms 14: and 15 are provided with semicircularsockets, as shown, which when secured together form a sleeve 18, adaptedto embrace a sectional hollow shaft 19, provided with ratchet-toothedcollars or rings 20 and 21, which abut one on either side of the sleeve18. The collar 20 is keyed to the shaft by means of outwardly-extendingpins or lugs 22,formed on the periphery of each section comprising theshaft, which engage corresponding openings formed in said collar,thecollar 21 being secured to the shaft by a pin 23, passing transverselythrough the shaft and fitting in recesses formed in the side of thecollar 21. A pawl 24 is pivoted to the supporting-arms 1A and 15 bymeans of a bolt and nut 25, which passes through an opening 26, formedin the adjacent faces of said arms, and this pawl is adapted to engagethe toothed collar 21 when the shaft is rotated and prevent the Wirefrom slipping, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The oppositeends of the shaft 19 are provided With longitudinally disposed slots oropenings 27, adapted to receive the ends of the Wire and firmly grip thesame when the device is in operation, the surplus Wire being Wound onthe ends of the shaft.

28 indicates a spanner or Wrench provided With an inWardly-extendingtooth 30, which engages the teeth on the collar 22v and by means ofwhich the shaft is rotated.

The construction of the device Will be readily understood and theoperation thereof is as folloWsz, In practice the stretcher is placed inposition With the supporting-base resting fiat against the post and thehorizontal arms 7 and 8 embracing the sides thereof, the stretcher beingsecurely clamped to the post by tightening the nut 13 and prevented fromtilting or tipping When stretching the Wire by means of the forked earsor lugs, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The Wire is nowpassed through the longitudinal slot in the end of the shaft and saidshaft rotated by applying the Wrench or spanner to the toothed collar 20and turning the same, the Wire being bent and firmly gripped in the slotand the surplus or slack wound on the end of the shaft as the Wire isstretched. As the shaft is turned the pawl 24 engages the tooth-collar21, securely holding the Wire under the desired tension While nailing,stapling, or otherwise permanently securing the same to the fence-post.

In some cases the clamping-arms 8 and 9 may be dispensed With, thestretcher being held in position on the post bymeans of screws orsimilar fastening devices passing through the slots in the ears or lugs4 and engaging the post.

In Fig. 7 I have shown the shaft or spindle 19 provided withtransversely-disposed pins 81 for holding the wire while turning theshaft instead of the slots or openings 27.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided astretcher that is extremely simple in construction and eflective inoperation, which may be easily and quickly applied to a post or otherstructure, and being composed of several parts detachably securedtogether should any one of the parts become worn or broken it may bequickly removed and renewed.

Having thus described the invention, what Q I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A Wire-stretcher, comprising, a base, a pair of supporting-armssecured to the base and provided with semicircular bearing-plates'extending the entire width of the arms, a revolving shaft mounted inthe bearing-plates, means carried by the shaft for engaging a Wire,means for adjustably supporting the stretcher, and means for looking theshaft to hold the stretched Wire.

2. A Wire-stretcher,comprising, a base provided Withontwardly-projecting ears, a pair of horizontally-disposedsupporting-arms secured to the base and provided with semicircularbearing plates extending the entire width of the arms, a revoluble shaftmounted in the bearing-plates and having Wire engaging means, a toothedcollar secured to the shaft, a pawl pivoted to the supporting-arms andadapted to engage the toothed collar, means for adjustably supportingthe stretcher and means for rotating the shaft.

3. A wire-stretcher, comprising, a sectional base, sectionalsupporting-arms secured to the vbase and provided with semicircularbearingplates, a revoluble shaft mounted in the bearing-plates, a pairof toothed collars secured to the shaft and adapted to abut one on eachside of said bearing-plates, a pawl carried by the supporting-arms andadapted to engage one of the toothed collars, means carried by the shaftfor engaging a Wire, and means for securing the stretcher to afence-post.

4. In a Wire-stretcher, the combination, of a base consisting of apairof horizontally-disposed spaced bars provided With outwardlyeXtendingears, sectional supporting arms formed integral With the base andprovided with semicircular bearing-plates, a shaft revolubly mounted insaid bearing-plates, said shaft having slotted end portions, a pair oftoothed collars secured to the shaft and abutting one on each side ofthe bearing-plates, a pawl pivoted to the supportingarms and adapted toengage one of the toothed collars, means for clamping the stretcher to apost and an actuating means for engaging the second collar.

5. A wire-stretcher comprising' a sectional base, sectionalsupporting-arms secured to the base, a shaft revolubly mounted in thesupporting-arms, said shaft having slotted end portions, a pair oftoothed collars on said shaft, a pivoted pawl carried by thesupporting-arms and adapted to engage one of said toothed collars, apairof toothed arms pivoted to the sectional base, and means for clampingthe arms to a post.

6. A wire-stretcher comprising a sectional base, sectionalsupporting-arms secured to the base, a shaft revolubl y mounted in thesupporting-arms, said shaft having slotted end por- IOO tions andprovided with a pair of fixed toothed In testimony that I claim theforegoing a collars, a pvoted pawl adapted to engage one my own I havehereto affixed my signature in of said collars, a pair of adjustabletoothed the presence of two Wtnesses.

arms pivoted to the base, a clampng-screw LUCIEN A. BUTTS. passingthrough the ends of said toothed arms, ftnessesz a nut adapted to engagethe screw, and means EDWARD VVooDMAN,l

for rotatng the shaft or spndle. A. J. VOODMAN.

